The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-04
RooM-MATEs IN MEXICO.

cans--Willis Manning and myself
were making hasty tour Of Mexico
| 10 the course Of our journey we reached
Campeaehy, tho large fortified capita
Of the State 70 which IL gives Us name
We had letters OF introduction TO i
wealthy citizen. whom we were desiroul
OF meeting, but he had gone 10 his es
tates when we arrived and would not
return for some days
After a short consultation, we de-
cided, as our time was limited. 10 fol.
low him.
Before setting ont We were told thai
our journey would lead through the
lowlands Of the terra calieaie (tbe hot
zone). and were warned TO be careful OF
the Venomous animal life that existed
there. We had already seen a good
deal Of scorpions, centipedes and ser.
penis. but rs yet we had not invaded
their paradise
Our journey. owing TO lazy mules and
stubborn muleteers. was not very rap
i'd, and at the close OF the second day
out We found ourselves in the hot
belt.
was very anxious TO find some hos
pitable landowner. in whose house we
could pass the night for during brief
halt our guides had dispatched a
cOralillo. and the mules had received
the stings of several scorpions.
Camping-out under such circumstan.
ces was not u pleasant thought, and ]
urged the guides TO exert themselves tc
find comfortable quarters for Ell Anperi.
cGtos.
As luck would have it-if luck may
call tia landowners dwelling was
found at the eleventh hour, and we
were welcomed TO the home of Manuel
Janvero. person of some distinction
in the country, and Mexican of con.
siderable culture.
At that time there was no Cutting
trouble 10 disturb the friendship exist.
ing between ourselves and Mexico,
therefore our host greeted us in the best
of humor.
Until long after shutdown we sat on
bis, porch and enjoyed conversation
and cigars. and when my companion
threw out hint about retiring, we were
informed that the guest chamber was
ready for our use.
The host himself, armed with a stout
cane, conducted US to the bed chamber,
and proceeded to inspect it infinitely
with the wax candle he carried.
noticed that he examined the cover
ing of the bed and looked behind the
two poor prints that adorned the walls.
you will shake your clothes care
fully in the morning, especially your
shoes, remarked our host. ere he bade
us goodnight at the door. w..
"Why 80 much cautionP" asked my
friend.
scorpions, senors," answered the
Mexican gentleman, with smile.
And we were left alone.
AS the reader may suppose. we got
ready for bed with a good deal of fear
and trembling.
l knew that our hosts inspection of
the covering was nothing less than a
scorpion hunt, and put myself between
the sheets with the utmost care. Man
ming did the same.
The night was warm, but some COW
ering had to be used to protect one
from the insects that find their way into
all Mexican bedrooms.
We drew the sheet over our heads,
and tried to sleep, but the voices of the
Mexican's household. still on the porch,
came in at the window aud prevented
slumber.
After awhile we exposed our heads
and listened.
All at once something was heard to
drop on the floor at the foot of the bed
as if hat had fallen from the peg.
THAT is my hat" exclaimed Man
ming, at will be scorpion nest be-
fore morning"
Neither of us had the courage to get
out and recover the hat, and it was well
for US that we had not
A little while later we heard our host
calling for a candle and a cane, and
then our door opened, displaying his
face.
Instinetively both of us raised our
bodies to see what he was at, and the
sight we saw was enough to startle us.
Where the supposed hat had fallen
lay snake, already coiled and darling
its white tongue toward Senior Jan
Vero, who dispatched it with a smart
blow.
Finding us awake, he told us he had
discovered the serpent's presence by a
peculiar odor, like raw potatoes, which
it emitted, and then he held the monster
up to haunt our future dreams.
l secretly determined not to sleep at
all that night; but the tiresome Journey
of the day rendered my promise void,
and in a short time had forgotten
our hosts serpent-hunt and was asleep.
After brief sleep awoke and felt a
peculiar sensation, the meaning Of
which l at once knew. A centipede was
crawling across my arm! My unwel-
come visitor was making very slow pro-
gress, and while l wished he would
hurry up, burst not move a muscle.
After while / felt him leave my arm,
and then l was touched gently by my
companion, who whispered that there
were scorpions in the bed. Scorpions!
After all, our hosts hunt had not been
thorough, and we had some of those
disagreeable bed-fellows to contend
with. After low-voiced debate. W,
concluded to get up and pass the night
in chairs, and with our clothes on.
Manning slipped out with many mis-
giVings and found the candle. BY this
time the Mexican family had retired,
and after shaking our garments and
shoes, TO see several black objects dart
out of the latter, we proceeded to keep
the rest of the night with eyes wide
open. 1t was the longest one even
saw; but morning came at last, and
was never more welcome.
When we related our experience to
our host he had laugh for it, and
said it was only specimen night in the
terra cGLieate. | did not want an
other, and we proceeded to reach our
destination as speedily AS possible.
have related this incident of actual
travel to acquaint the reader with some
of the drawbacks to residen ce in Mex
leo. -.
In some parts of the country human
life is constantly in danger Vipers of
all sizes and colors exist to strike the
inhabitant, tarantulas and cemIiDcduS
abound in large numbers, and sc rninns
multiply like fiies Then there are in-
sects that burrow under ones skin ard
hatch there, producing most pain
fnl sores. The hot zone of Mexico is
the paradise of serpents, lizards. poi
sOnous insects and sickness; yet it is
the home of people who sing its
praises by the hour to the tourist
such is the patriots boast where'er we
roam;
His first best country ever is at home"
-GoideH Days.